Life-preserving mattress



(No Model() W. MILLER'. 8

LIFE PRBSBRVING MATTRESS.

No. 289,122. Patented' Nov. 27. 1883.

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VILLIAM MILLER, O F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

" UFE-PRESERVING MATTRESS.

Sl?IlLILFFJZCAIION forming partei'v Letters Patent No. 289,122, datedNovember 27, A1383.

i A Application filed bray 23, 15583. (No modem [o r1.2?, whom; z muyconcern.-

Be it known that I, WIILLIAM MILLER, ofV

part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a topy view of myimproved mattress, the cov-V ering or upholstery being partiallyremoved. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 representsa longitudinal section online 2o :t as, Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents atransverse section online y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinalsection on line a e, Fig. l. Fig. p (i represents an edge view. Fig. 7represents a transverse section, showing a different ar-A rangement oi'the upholsteryr from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. S represents amodification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the igures.Y

In carrying out my invention I provide, as 3o the basis oi' my improvedmattress, a flexible base or structure, A, dcomposed of a 'series ofhermetically-sealedtubes, c ce, of rubber or other suitable flexible andWater-proof mate rial, connected by intermediate Webs or flanges, a',formed on or firmly secured to said tubes. Said Webs or flanges arepreferably o'f the i, same material as the tubes. Each tube may haveindependent flanges, as shown in Fig. 8, y. placed upon and secured tothe flanges of the 4o adjacent tubes, or all the tubes andwebs orflanges may be made integral. y Each tube is hermetically closed, andhas no air communication with any other tube. If desired, each tube mayhave a tube or orice whereby it 4 5 may be iniiated, such tube ororifice being provided with a suitable cap vor stopper.` The tubes maybe lled with cork shavings or other buoyant material. The tubespreferably extend lengthwise of the mattress, and are at uni- I preferto make about four tubes on a mattress of ordinary Width for ered'bysuitable upholstery material, c, composed of hair, cork cuttings, orother equivalent material, vand an inclosing case or tick. Theupholstery material is secured to the base or structure A by fasteningse', passing through the Webs or flanges a', and secured to suitablebuttons or enlargements bearing on the outer surfaces of the cover ortick. It will be seen that theconnectingm'ebs c keep the tubes a inposition relatively to each other, so that said tubes cannot becomedisplaced, and also permit the upholstery material to be secured afterit is placed in position` on the base A,

by the needle or other instrument used in passing the securing threadsor cords through from side to side of the mattress. The tubes projectingfrom the sides of the connecting-Webs form protuberances, whereby theoperator is enabled to readily locate the connecting-webs and puncturethem Without danger of punc turing the tubes. 'Io the bottom'of themattress I secure, by any suitable means, longitudinal slats orstiffening-strips e, which, when the mattress is in place in aberth,'bear on the frame-work of the berth and assist in support` ingthe mattress therein. In case the mattress is thrown into the Water,said strips stiften it, so that it will not sag or bend at any pointunder the weight of a person or persons sitting upon it.Y by transversestrips e2, if desired, to stiften the mattress crosswise.

frepresents a vertical socket rigidly attached to one or more of thestiffening-strips at one end or edge of the mattress, and adapted tohold a flag-pole to attract attention when the mattress is aioat. On theedges of -the mattress are pockets, loops, or other devices, g g,adapted to hold inl concealed positions a dag-pole, h, and a paddle, t'.

The slats emay be detachably connected to either side of the same. It isobvious that the mattress may be provided with straps or cords, to begrasped by persons in the Water, said straps or cords being arranged inany suitable manner.

The filling portion of the upholstery material may be omitted from theunder side of the and wit-hout danger of penetratingsa-id tubes y Thestrips e may be connected.

the mattress, so that they may be placed onI one person; The structurethus formed is cov- Y roo webs a', to leave vacant spaces under saidwebs and between the tubes a, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby effecting asaving in material and weight. The webs support the filling above them,so that the mattress is sufficiently yielding` when made in thisv form.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a buoyant mattress withstiffening.- strips and with devices for holding` paddles and flagpoles;hence I do not claim these features.

I claim- 1. In a .life-saving mattress, a body, A, of rubber or othersuitable flexible yielding and Waterproof material, composed ofalternating lhermetically-sealed parallel tubes c aud penetrableconnecting webs or ilanges a', formed on said tubes, but having nocommunication with the air-spaces thereof, and serving to receiveupholstery-securing devices, combined with upholstery or coveringmaterial secured to the body A by fastening devices passing through -2:assume said webs or flanges,the latter constituting elastic or yieldingsupports for the upholstery,

and presenting broadcontinuous penetrable areas to the tool used ininserting said devices, whereby liability of puncturing the tube a bysaid tool is obviated, as set forth.

2. A mattress composed of a series of substantially parallelhermetieally-closed iiexible tubes connected by intermediate webs orflanges, and upholstery or covering material applied to the upper sideof saidl tubes and webs,vaoant spacesbeing left between the tubes belowsaid webs, as set forth. l

In testimony whereof I have 4signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of May, 1883.

VILLIAM MILLER.

